A MAN was told to expect time behind bars after biting off a professional cage fighter’s ear in a pub brawl.

Victim Craig Payne was handed part of his ear in a cup filled with ice following the attack at The Banc pub in Pentre.

Attempts to re-attach it failed after it turned gangrenous and it had to be removed eight days later.

Steven Watts, 24, of Bryn Henllan, Blaenrhondda, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent when he appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court for trial and was told by Judge Paul Thomas QC the only sentence would be jail.

CCTV played at court showed the lead-up to the offence in the weeks before Christmas in 2008.

Laurence Jones, prosecuting, said the pair had found themselves at The Banc pub on December 6, 2008.

Mr Payne had got there after playing a rugby match earlier that day for Treorchy and Watts was there drinking with friends.

CCTV played to the court showed the escalating problems between the pair as an aggressive Watts took a swing at Mr Payne while they were standing at the bar shortly before 1am.

He was taken away by friends, but returned a few minutes later.

“The defendant approached quickly at the complainant and punched him a number of times,” said Mr Jones.

Mr Payne managed to elbow his attacker to the face in an attempt at defence.

It settled down briefly, but as the pair stood at the bar, there was a verbal altercation and Watts closed in on Mr Payne, squaring up to him face-to-face before punching him.

Out of shot of the CCTV camera the two fell to the floor and, as Mr Payne tried to defend himself, Watts grabbed him in a bear hug and bit his ear, biting down harder and tearing away the flesh as Mr Payne pulled away.

“Mr Payne was standing at the bar and people around him were fussing, but he didn’t know why,” said Mr Jones.

“Then somebody handed him a cup of ice and told him: ‘Here’s the other half of your ear’.”

It was sewn back on at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, but eight days later it had to be detached because of gangrene.

Andrew Taylor, defending Watts, who has a previous conviction for criminal damage, asked for a pre-sentence report before sentence and confirmation that Mr Payne was, as suspected, a cage fighter who fought in the professional ranks.

Judge Thomas QC told Watts: “It would not matter whether he was a chess player or a cage fighter, it would not have any bearing.”

Watts was remanded on bail to appear at Carmarthen Crown Court for sentence on November 15 and was told he would be going to prison.